The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-13
HARPER PLACED IN PRISON
Jury Finds Him Guilty and He Is Sen
fenced to Ten Years Imprisonment.
Judge Sage Orders that He Be at Once Taken
to Columbus and Placed in the Peniten-
tiary-Scenes in the Warden's Office.


gathered in the corridors of the United States
courtroom assembled this morning, long before
tho time for the assembling of the court 1t
was simply impossible for ladies to get in at the
public door. and only those who had friends to
show them the private entrances could reach the
courtroom. At 10 o'clock Judge Sage appeared
alone. Judge jackson having been called to hold
court in Covington. Court was opened, and
seven minutes later the jury filed in. AS soon
they were seated Judge Sage asked If they
had agreed upon their verdict, and the brennan
said they had. The judge directed the clerk to
receive it
At this point Mr. Blackburn called the courts
attention to the absence of :he defendant
"Let him be brought in" said the Judge
In two minutes Marshal Urner entered, fol-
lowed by Mr.. Harper, looking pale and con-
cerned Behind him came his wife, her face q
study. It looked as if she was upborne by q
faith that in some way she was to hear good
news from that jury. Miss Matthews, her sis
ter. followed, calm she could compose her
self to be. When they were seated the clerk
took the sealed enveloped inclosne the sentence,
tore it open and read the words: "We the jury,
find the defendant guilty charged in the in
dictment"
This means guilty all the thirty three
counts left for the jury to act upon. There was
per sat is if transfxed but Miss Matthews found
the relief in tears which she struggled with all
her power to repress.
Mr.. Blackburn moved an arrest of Judgment,
which the Court instantly overruled. Then Dis
trict Attorney Burnet moved for immediate
sentence, and that the sentence be cumulative.
Judge Sage. in a somewhat lengthy opinion.
stated the result of his investigation the
question of cumulative sentences in like
this, and this gave some relief to the suddenness
of the blow upon Mr.. Harpers family. He
finally overruled the motion. and asked if the
defendant had anything to say before sentence
was pronounced upon him.
Mr.. Blackburn arose and said that the defend
an. wished to speak through him, and to say
that he had nothing to add to what had been
said, except to thank the Court for its fair and
impartial treatment, and to ask that the Court
be a mercifu the circumstances and the law
would permit
The Court directed Harper to stand up It
was q most distressing scene. The strong man
stood erect, with tears coursing down his cheek,
but other sign of emotion. save his blanched
face Behind his chair, with bowed head, sat
his wife, in an agony that had no better mani
festation than the wringng of her hands. Tears
did not to her relief. Miss Matthew'S.
far more demonstrative, still repressed sobs, and
in her own distress reached over to try to COM
fort her sister by touch. So they sat, while
the Court. with impressive solemnity. recited
the usual form of sentence, saying the evidence
left no doubt OF the defendants guilt. and that
the offense merited the highest penalty of the
law, which the Court would now impose-ten
years in the Ohio penitentiary, and that tho
Mr.. Harper sat down, turning to his wife.
Their lips met, her hands were around his neck,
his arms encircled her. Jurors wept, and
women and men all over the courtroom were in
tears.
The silence was broken by Mr.. Blackburn
making last request from the Court That
was that the order of immediate imprisonment be
suspended, and gave q reason that there
much business to be attended to by Harper, in
which his wife was closely concerned, and it
would be exceedingly dif6cults to attend to it
unless Mr. Harper could remain here for a few
days. But the Court was relentless. Judge
Sage said there would be opportunity for his
wife to see him in Columbus, and he repeated
the order to the marshal to convey him thither
to-day.
After the scenes in the courtroom, Harper
and his family spent some time in the marshafs
Office, and then went to the JAIL where he
spent the afternoon in his room, preparing for
other property were taken out and sent to his
house. His family Joined him, and he babe
them good bye. Mrs. Harper fingered after the
others had departed, and her farewell was
spoken with him alone. A moment
afrerward he appeared unmoved ever.
Shortly before a carr'sge appeared at the Jail,
in which Harper and the deputy marshals,
Kiersted and Costello, entered and were driven
way his late residence on Fourth street There
was q small gathering of people there to see him
enter the train. but the deputies avoided the
front entrance by going down John street and
entering the depot from the west end. He was
placed In a parlor-car Of the Midland train, in
the smoking compartment, and tina curtains
drawn. Here Miss Matthews joined him, &c
companied by her father aud her brother. A
crowd gathered about the ca- and waited until
the train moved out at 4:O5.
The trial began two weeks ago tomorrow.
given at 1000, the sentence at 1925. and at 4:05
the head of the once famous Fidelity Bank was
on his way TO the Ohio penitentiary at Column
bus.